Bujumbura, Burundi – Uganda’s young wrestlers returned home with pride after securing two silver medals at the Regional Wrestling Championship for seniors and Under-17 (FS/WW/BW), held in Bujumbura, Burundi, from 22 to 23 August 2026. The championship, which featured Freestyle, Women’s Wrestling and Beach Wrestling, brought together about 100 athletes from five countries across East, Central and West Africa. The competition was hosted by the Burundi Wrestling Federation at the OlympAfrica Centre for Sports in Kanyosha.
Uganda’s strongest showing came in the Under-17 category, where the young contingent won two silver medals. The achievement is a significant boost for Uganda’s wrestling programme and a strong indication of the growing depth of talent within the country’s youth development pipeline. Uganda’s participation in the championship provided an important platform for strengthening regional sporting relations and advancing sports diplomacy. The competition brought together athletes, coaches and officials from across the region, fostering camaraderie, cultural exchange and closer people-to-people ties through sport. Burundi emerged as the overall champions, finishing first, followed by Kenya in second place and Burkina Faso in third. The Uganda Embassy in Bujumbura was represented at the championship by Ms. Sarah Mbabazi.
Following their impressive performance, the Ugandan athletes paid a courtesy visit to the Embassy of Uganda in Bujumbura, where they were warmly received by H.E. Ambassador Maj. Gen. (Rtd) Matayo Kyaligonza and Mission staff. The Ambassador congratulated the Uganda Wrestling Federation, coaches and athletes for their outstanding performance and for flying the national flag high on the regional stage. He commended the team for contributing to Uganda’s sports diplomacy efforts and encouraged the athletes to remain disciplined, committed and focused as they prepare for future regional and international competitions. Ambassador Kyaligonza further emphasized the importance of investing in young sporting talent, noting that sustained preparation, discipline and teamwork are essential to building athletes capable of competing successfully at the highest level.
Uganda’s performance in Bujumbura comes at an important time for the country’s wrestling fraternity, as Uganda is set to host the next edition of the Regional Wrestling Championship in 2028. Hosting the championship will provide Uganda with an opportunity not only to showcase its growing sporting talent and organizational capacity, but also to welcome athletes and officials from across the region, further strengthening sporting partnerships and people-to-people diplomacy.
The silver-medal performance in Bujumbura therefore represents more than a podium finish. It is a promising step in Uganda’s efforts to nurture the next generation of wrestlers, strengthen regional sporting cooperation and use sport as a vehicle for diplomacy, friendship and national pride.
